Veterans And Facial Disfigurement Due To Scarring

In recent wars, there have been over 1,100 major burn victims. Among new VA compensation recipients, scars and burns are the sixth most common condition claimed for VA disability compensation. Given the dangers of war and engaging in combat, these statistics are not surprising. They are, however, evidence of the necessity of the VA disability compensation system. Veterans who develop serious scarring or facial disfigurement as a result of their service deserve to be compensated for their condition(s). 

How The VA Rates Burns And Scars Of The Head, Face, And Neck

Under 38 CFR § 4.118, the VA evaluates scars and disfigurement of the head, face, and neck depending on their severity and how many features of the veterans face are disfigured due to the scarring.

Diagnostic Code 7800: Burn scar(s) of the head, face, or neck; scar(s) of the head, face, or neck due to other causes; or other disfigurement of the head, face, or neck:

  • 80 – With visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of three or more features or paired sets of features (nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, lips), or; with six or more characteristics of disfigurement
  • 50 – With visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of two features or paired sets of features (nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, lips), or; with four or five characteristics of disfigurement
  • 30 – With visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of one feature or paired set of features (nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, lips), or; with two or three characteristics of disfigurement
  • 10 – With one characteristic of disfigurement

The VA will evaluate all other disabling effects associated with the scars such as pain, instability, and residuals of associated muscle or nerve injury, under the appropriate diagnostic code(s) and apply § 4.25 to combine the evaluation(s) with the evaluation assigned under the above diagnostic code. The characteristic(s) of disfigurement may be caused by one scar or by multiple scars, and the characteristic(s) required to assign a particular evaluation need not be caused by a single scar in order to assign that evaluation. For the purposes of evaluation under 38 CFR § 4.118, the eight characteristics of disfigurement are:

  • Scar 5 or more inches (13 or more cm.) in length.
  • Scar at least one-quarter inch (0.6 cm.) wide at widest part.
  • Surface contour of scar elevated or depressed on palpation.
  • Scar adherent to underlying tissue.
  • Skin hypo-or hyper-pigmented in an area exceeding six square inches (39 sq. cm.).
  • Skin texture abnormal (irregular, atrophic, shiny, scaly, etc.) in an area exceeding six square inches (39 sq. cm.).
  • Underlying soft tissue missing in an area exceeding six square inches (39 sq. cm.).
  • Skin indurated and inflexible in an area exceeding six square inches (39 sq. cm.).

Get Help With Your VA Disability Claim

If you are a veteran with facial, head, or neck scarring who is looking to apply for VA disability compensation, or you need assistance with a VA disability appeal, please contact our office today. Our experienced veterans disability lawyers are ready to help you get the compensation you deserve.